Mom

A poem by Sagarika Deka

MOM 
It was back in those days
When I first opened my eyes 
When the first rays of light first felt into the tiny eyes of mine,
And I... I just couldn't bear the light

Beside me was a woman
Who's womb was my home for 9 full months,
Where I was fully protected and cared 

And every time she told me about the bright new world outside,
Fascinated me every single time I heard about it,

I used to copy her too. Just like now, I wanna be a woman like her.
Whenever her heartbeat, mine too skipped a beat.
Every time she smiled, I smiled too,
And every time she let those tears fall, mine wanted to fall too.

And, all the never-ending mood swings which I gave her, but my efforts to reduce it was also no less,
A kick from inside was just so enough to make her stop doing all her work and just feel my kick,
I knew those days weren't easy for her,
I knew how much important her work was, how much she valued and how she had to choose between me and her work,
           Yet, she did it.
She did it with no regrets.
She says she enjoyed those days when curiosity was so high to know me, to touch me,
I... I too had, to see that face outside, to see the bright me world outside.

She told me about the world outside, it is harsh and smooth at the same time.
She told me,
how some men are no less than animals, 
how they don't spare a 6 months old and nor a 60-year-old.
She told me how a woman is treated, how her virginity is not her choice but a mark of her character.
And how her clothes define her and how a girl child is always treated to be a curse to the family.

I knew I was scared,
Scared to face out,
Felt like those things which always fascinated me could no longer fascinate me. 

But,
There she is... holding me,
Promising to save me and protect me and make me a woman like her.

So,
Here we are at the end of the 9 months,
When we both are equally excited to see each other,
When our hearts kept on beating faster and faster,

The time she almost felt dead,
The pain which I gave her could never be compared to anything else.
              The strong woman
                         she is,

But, 
she expects only one thing, which I know manages to bring a smile on her face every time I say,
                   MOM.

___

Today, across the world, women are still subjected to double standards, inequality and a general lack of safety. Be it in the home, workplace, or on the streets, women do not feel safe. It's disappointing to see how women are still being judged on the basis of what they wear, what they do, or with whom they spend time with. I wrote this poem because I feel that we are still capable of shifting the paradigm and changing the world by speaking to these issues and lifting the veil of taboo/ darkness and create a  world where all can enjoy the benefits of justice and equality. 

Such justice and equality will only be realized when we understand the value of the individual. And to know the importance of and need for women is to understand her value. She is the potential for life and the vessel through which the coming generations arrive. She is the foundation of love, kindness and care.  And if she chooses to undertake motherhood, it is a testimony to her strength and resilience.  By watching my own mother, I have seen that motherhood is a trial by fire, and at the same time, a life-changing and exciting journey- caring her child is a dream at the same time the biggest responsibility she likely to undertake, and she does so without regret. We need to respect our women, especially our mothers because without her, there wouldn't be you and your potential.

- Sagarika Deka

More about the Author:

Amazingly, this author, Sagarika is a 12-grade student from Guwahati, Assam, India. She describes herself as a ‘dreamer and a believer’. Through her words, art and music she hopes to change this world and make it a better place to live.

To get in contact with Sagarika you can follow her on instagram or contact her via her email sagarikadeka30@gmail.com